Xbox 360 IM keyboard

Here’s a close-up look at a standard Xbox 360 controller with the thumb-typing keyboard attachment that Microsoft will sell as part of its plan to extend Windows Live Messenger functionality to the console. The company announced the plan last night. See this story for more. Microsoft isn’t yet saying how much the small keyboard attachment will cost when it goes on sale this summer. Without it, gamers will need to either plug in their own USB keyboards or use the cumbersome, on-screen virtual keyboard to send instant messages.